Burnside Church in Pirinoa celebrates its 150th commemoration on Sunday, 11 May.
While other churches transform into housing or community centres, the iconic Burnside Church endures as a symbol of community commitment in the “Lower Valley.”
As a booklet published for the 150th anniverary notes, the little church “is a testament to the strength and faith of the original settlers, Donald and Katherine Sinclair who … donated an acre of land to the community for Burnside Church.”
To aid the early 1870s project Sarah Sinclair, (daughter of Donald and Katherine), rode around the district collecting donations to build the church, designed to seat a congregation of 120.
The much-photographed building is described as “a simple timber ecclesiastical building in the colonial gothic style.”
Constructed for 250 Pounds by local builder James Tweedale to a design by architect John King of Masterton, it is thought that the timber was hauled from Mr Grindy’s mill at Morrisons Bush by a bullock team.
May 15, 1875 saw Burnside (nobody is quite sure where or when that name originated) dedicated by the Rev. James McKee – ordained as district pastor immediately prior to the ceremony. The congregation obeyed a condition of Donald Sinclair’s gift – that no collection should be conducted at the church.
The Wairarapa Standard of 18 May 1875 printed a report that “the Lower Valley Presbyterian Church was officially dedicated on Sunday May 15th by Rev. J. McKee.” Mrs Duncan McMaster presented the church “with a very handsome bound bible.”
In 1879 Donald Sinclair conveyed the land by Deed to the Trustees – Rev W P Brown, Rev J Paterson, Messrs D McMaster, J Sinclair, J P Russell and P Hume, on trust, “To permit the said land to be forever appropriated for a place of public worship, school houses, manse and other buildings and a graveyard.” Services were held fortnightly.
Skip forward 135 years and in 2010 the community continues its connections with Burnside. The booklet notes: WEDDING – 6 November 2010, Hamish Sutherland (Great grandson of Donald and Katherine Sinclair) and Kate Reilly.
On 15 May 2014 Heritage NZ reported:
“The Burnside Church was built in 1875 and survives in near original condition as a marker of the colonial settler community and Presbyterianism in rural New Zealand. It has historical spiritual and social importance in the lower south Wairarapa for its period of operation as the Presbyterian church in the district.
“The aesthetic value of the building has ensured it continues as a landmark in the area.”
(Booklet: The Burnside Church 1875 – 2025 compiled by Julie Weber (nee Burling) .
